Support and friendship for those whose lives have been affected by estrangement.

Potteringabout wow they get millions of listeners . Hopefully it will help people open up about what's happening to them . But I hope it's even handed and not blaming parents for what their children decide to do.

Sounds interesting Potteringabout, and as Whiff says it is listened to by millions. But will be interesting to see how estrangement is depicted. Let’s hope it is sympathetic to all involved and doesn’t just cast the parents as the villains.

It's about time it was aired Pottering. Although in the Archers once you marry one, your own family cease to exist anyway. I can't understand Rochelle, she's dramatic to put it kindly. I find her smothering yet she left her children, where does she get the cash to live on? Interesting.
Whiff, it must have been so frightening for you, but you know you always have your daughter and family. I don't know what's the matter with your son or any estranged adult child just binning us. I suppose they don't think of us anymore.
Don't get doing cartwheels at Sit/Fit if you go.

Allsorts cartwheels would be to much mind your our 93 year old member might give it a go. Out instructor has a strict rule if it hurts stop. I will do what I can but not as gung ho as my usual way.

My daughter and grandsons came yesterday to check up on me . As I had managed to have a shower I got dressed. But had enjoyed my pj week. Only when she noticed my appointment letter for Wednesday realised it was the cardiologist I saw on the acute cardiac ward he was lovely and easy to talk to . Booking a taxi to take me and will have one back. But hopefully next week I will beable to use the buses and trains as I want to go to my craft group at the Brain Charity.

Funny enough I didn't feel frightened I knew I was in good hands and well looked after. Even when the local anaesthetic and sedation didn't take effect and felt everything I just hurt no fear. Even the thought I would have stents didn't bother me . But didn't need them . Plus I knew I could cope in my bungalow on my own. Not like when I had jaundice in my old house and there was no one to help me . That really drove it home to me I had to move and to a bungalow as I couldn't manage in a house if I got that ill again . Big wake up call my life had to change . Best thing I ever did was move here my happy place .

Morning all

Well done Whiff, good to hear you're on the road to recovery in the comfort of your lovely bungalow; after having such a terrible time at home and after in hospital too.

Morning All ☕️.

Yogi did you put your bird table or feeder up high enough?
I had to move one of mine up to over 6 feet. My neighbour complained that when my feeder was too low, the local cats were using it as a “breakfast buffet”.

Now bird nesting season is upon us, I restrict my cats going outside to perhaps 1.5 - 2 hours a day. Mostly at 5-6am before the birds are noisy and maybe later around 8pm.

If I could put a catio up I would.

Cute picture Sparkly Yes bird table is high, I managed to step it up onto the side boarder, next to the fence, so as safe as I can get it, sure cats couldn't climb up as table is on a pedestal.

Evening everyone.

It's been a rather stressful time for us. One friend is recovering from a heart attack, another ha been quite ill and another lost her mum, so we have a funeral to go to tomorrow .

Our little poodle had his heart scan today and the good news is he's not at the stage where he needs any medication but they've recommended he has another in 6 months time.

We had someone out to our lodge today because the vinyl kitchen flooring is beginning to ripple quite badly in 3 places so we now have to wait to hear from the manufacturer, which they've said may take some time, but as long as they sort it I'm not worried; everything's under guarantee.

I've never listened to the Archers but as you ll say, it's very popular so doing a story about estrangement should reach a wide audience. Fingers crossed it's not all about blaming the one(s) who become estranged.

Lovely pic of your cats Sparkly . I do miss not having a cat in my life .

Sounds as if you're well on the road to recovery Whiff but don't get carried away and remember to take things easy,

I hope you've managed to 'cat proof' your bird table Yogin, I love cats but that's the trouble with them isn't it, they like birds but not for the reasons we do.

Have a good evening everyone.

Evening all,
Sorry to hear of your troubles Smiles. My old mum used to say troubles are like buses you get none for ages then they all come along at once 😞
Three friends in need. Am sure that you being there for them is greatly appreciated. Hoping they find the strength to recover soon and in the case of your bereaved friend I can only hope good memories will prevail which, as with my parents, will overcome first feelings of grief which are nearly always associated with a person’s last days.
Sending hugs 🤗🌺

@Whiff so glad you have your happy place in your beautiful bungalow. I am sure that moving there has been one of your best decisions.
You sound as if you are doing really well with your recovery, but do take care.
🌺🙏🏾

@Sparkly, loving the cats. What beauties. And you are doing all you can to save the birds, trouble is it is a cat’s nature to hunt, they are not being cruel it is what they are hard wired to do. We had a cat once that loved to hunt and would bring the dead prey back to show us. And actually sometimes it wasn’t quite dead. But it is no good scolding them, as you say you can only take steps to prevent it happening.
Give them a stroke from me 🌺👍

@Yogi good move with the bird table. Thing is we don’t just get birds but squirrels coming to raid our bird table. So many near us due to living near the park.
Take care 🌺

Morning all

Sorry to hear your bad news Smiles. A friend of mine's nan is in hospital, very poorly with Sepsis, so all our fingers and toes are crossed for her recovery. The nan, mum and daughter all live together, so very close. The daughter's little dog went in for an op last week and was recovery at home when this happened, so double whammy!

Babs,it's the same here in my garden if I had a cat most of them would steer clear. I do miss having one.
Smikeless never liked January, a few people I know have or are unwell and I have had an accident taken me out of action but not seriously. However Spring is round the corner and the snowdrops are out.

Smiles sorry about your friends. Hope the funeral was what the family wanted and having friends to support them is always a great help. Some people see funerals as the end but to me it just means that person is never coming back. It makes it real. May seem strange I knew my husband and parents where never coming back but seeing the coffins just meant it's a lifetime without them . Well that how it felt . Mind you it was a relief seeing my mother in laws coffin meant I was finally free from her . But I would still look after her again for all she was vile she was still family, and my husband loved his parents but didn't like them . But never turned his back on them that's why I looked after his mom . My love for my husband far out weighted my hatred for his mom.
Sorry got maudling there.

Allsorts I hope you are on the mend and no lasting damage . Unfortunately we don't bounce back like we used to . My mind is going off places this morning suddenly had a vision of you on a trampoline. I think it's going to be one of those days😆.

I love pictures of peoples pets but never wanted one . And love reading stories about them. SparklyGrandma beautiful cats . Smiles that was good news about your dog.

I don't feed the birds but have above ground pound made out of a planter saw Adam Frost year or 2 ago making some in his garden . It's only big enough for 2 plants but it means the birds and the pesky squirrels can have a drink all year round .

Yogin hope your friends nan recovers well at least she is in the best place .

Well gang saw my cardiologist yesterday the one I saw when I was on the acute cardiac ward. Had all the tests done before seeing him and he was happy with them and listening to my heart had a strong heart beat . When the consultant did the angiography only found little furring in my right artery and didn't need a stent because there where no obstructions he could have look all around the inside of my heart and couldn't find any sign of heart attack .
Because of the troponin was 170 they thought heart attack . But found out a stroke can give raised troponin levels.
Cardiologist is going to prescribe a low dose statin to prevent anymore build up of the furring .

Because I had a headache that painkillers didn't get rid of plus pain in my left side of my neck and my loose of speech now think I had a mini stroke,TIA. I did say when very unwell my HPX kicks in and my speech goes. As my heart is fine and no sign of damage he is discharging back to my GP care . But putting in a referral to a neurologist who deals with strokes so happy with that . Means a MRI on my brain but haven't had one since 2017. As I only had CT scan when I went to A&E and I saw the the stroke nurse but she ruled out a stroke I think because of my already having PAF . So just have to wait for an appointment. He hoped it wouldn't be long . At least a MRI will pick up the smallest detail if there is anything in my brain . Besides my inability to make anything short and not a ramble 🤣.

I was with the cardiologist 40 mins mind you he did remember me and said I looked better than last time he saw me and the nurse with him remembered me from the A&E corridor ward. Makes me wonder what made me memorable 🤷🤦. He did ask if I take my medication and said of course I am very strict and take all my tablets at the same times everyday as I function on routine always have done . It's how people with HPX work so I am not weird. He said you would be surprised how many people don't. I don't understand people like that why if you need medication and they don't take it sheer madness to me .

At least up here the healthcare is brilliant. It's like the healthcare my brother and sister in law gets . She was told she needed a MRI on her spine on Thursday they phone Saturday morning and said can you come now . So that's all done just waiting for the results. Where they lived before they had rubbish healthcare . Like me best thing they did was moved to their bungalow in a different county. My brother has permanent AF and had 2 mini strokes ,TIA's and he's still going .

I mentioned to my daughter about going to the craft group at the Brain Charity next week and she said mom you are doing to much. So decided she's right plus I don't want to worry her. It takes me 2 hours each way that's including waiting for buses and the train . But I have found a craft group that meets once a month for 3 hours at my favourite cafe in the village ,called a village but really a small town. Upstairs where I went to my first sit fit class after moving here. So next month going there .

Well think that's me up to date ..

Have the best day you can .

Whiff, sounds like you have a good caring team looking after you, hope you keep on resting and recovering, take care of yourself.

@ Allsorts sorry to hear you have had health problems, hoping you recover fully soon.
Hope the funeral went well yesterday Smiles, or as well as any funeral can go.
Glad to know the health care you are getting is thorough Whiff, the pain in the neck does tie in more to a TIA, which can also affect your ability to speak, the MRI will be able to shed light on this.
Been a bit of a bumpy start to the year health wise let’s hope things look up for all those feeling below par 🌺🙏🏾🙏🏾

Thank you Babs. I very much hope we all flourish this year and celebrate how far we have come. To all those who have just become estranged know that with support you will be ok.

Yogi, fingers crossed indeed, sepsis is very nasty and I hear about so many cases of it recently.
🤞🤞

Babs The hunting by cats is a pain. But they are bringing in say dead mice, for me. They lay their hunting result by my bedroom door.

Punishing them would only make them anxious so I say thank you for their present, then put the poor thing in the bin or outside if still alive. The hunter then looks around for the mouse etc.

I think sometimes one of them brings something in as they think I’m looking perky and need feeding.

Are we ready for the next big storm?

Whiff thank you. Good luck with your new craft group.

Smileless thank you. One of them atm falls asleep on my shoulder, purring until she does.

Sorry your Lino is causing problems.

Morning all, rotten day though!

Good news about your Heart Whiff not so good that they think it may have been a stroke, but you seemed to have fully recovered now, so brilliant.

No not ready for the big storm Sparkly hate this weather!

Babs Not heard about my friend's nan, nothing on our group chat since yesterday morning, don't like to ask incase its bad news. Last time I saw M she seemed fit and well, we had a nice chat together.

Not looking forward to walkies today

Morning everyone. Hope you are all OK and didn't have any storm damage. It was pretty bad here but not as bad as other areas, very strong winds but thankfully no rain.

Our neighbours shed blew over which was quite a shock as they have a large freezer inside. They're not here very often so I'd suggested they give us a 'phone number so we could contact them if there was a problem.

Mr. S. 'phoned and he came through, the shed was totally destroyed so with Mr. S.'s help they've laid it flat with the freezer now uncovered, lying on top.

It's great that you're doing so well Whiff and I'm glad you've taken your DD's advice about the craft group meeting.

Hope you're feeling a little better Allsorts . As Whiff has said, we don't get over things as quickly as we used to do as we get older.

I hope that as far as your friend's nan is concerned that 'no news is good news' Yogin. It's a bit of a dilemma isn't it when you haven't heard anything and don't know if you should get in touch.

The good friends we've made here haven't come again this weekend. He's still not well enough to travel and this has been going on since January 2nd. She said she'll fill us in hopefully next weekend when they come over, so I don't know what's wrong and don't like to ask.

Describing the start of the year as a bit bumpy is spot on Babs but 'onwards and upwards' and hopefully things will improve for us all and if they don't, we have this great thread and one another for friendship and support.

That's what my last cat used to do Sparkly, fall asleep on my shoulder and purr so loudly I'd struggle to hear the tv!!! Still feel not quite complete without a cat in my life.

Our dogs struggled with the strong winds yesterday Yogin, how did Joey cope? Despite not being big enough to make much head way when it's windy, our little poodle goes all daft; jumping around as if he's having 'a mad moment' .

The funeral went well. My dear friend held it all together until it finished and I went up to her; we hugged and she broke down bless her. She said afterwards she was OK until she saw me so I said I tend to have that affect on people; then we laughed .

One of our new neighbours who only started her new job in August as a carer, has been awarded 'Carer of the Year'. I'm not surprised as she's such a lovely lady, so I popped round with a congratulations card yesterday and we had a good chat.

They're a lovely couple, an older version of our girls so we refer to them as 'our ladies' .

Smiles glad you have your ladies . Sorry about your friend hopefully they will feel able to tell you wants wrong . If it's bad news it takes time to digest it and if treatment is available it takes time to get it started. Surprised the shed went over with a freezer inside . When they have a new shed they may need to think about having a concrete base inside to hold it down. After Arewen I had my new greenhouse panels glued in with extra clips and a net over it weighted at the corners with old tights with rocks inside .

It's hard to know what to do if you have a friend who has an ill relative where to ask about them or not Yogin.

My neighbour from 2 doors away came round yesterday with flowers and a card. Said my next neighbour had told them I was in hospital but didn't if I was home or up to callers . But she saw the Sainsbury's delivery so knew I was home. That's what my neighbours are like .

Just read a poem by Jenny Joseph called Warning it's about when she is old . Fun read.